Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences, Vol 27 No 2 (2023): 368 - 385

Recovery of Phosphate from Artificial Human Urine Using Magnesium-modified Biochar FOR IMMOBILIZATION OF

LEAD IN SOIL

(Pemulihan Fosfat daripada Urin Manusia Tiruan Menggunakan Biochar yang diubah suai Magnesium Untuk Imobilisasi Plumbum dalam Tanah)

Soon Kong Yong ^1* Nurul Fariha Mohd Idrus¹, Nur Qursyna Boll Kassim²,

Azwan Mat Lazim³, and Robert Thomas Bachmann⁴

¹Soil Assessment and Remediation Research Group,

Faculty of Applied Sciences,

Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

²Soil Conservation and Management Research Group,

Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology,

Universiti Teknologi MARA , 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

³Faculty of Science and Technology,

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia , 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

⁴Green Chemistry & Sustainable Engineering Technology Cluster,

Section of Environmental and Polymer Engineering Technology,

Malaysian Institute of Chemical and Bioengineering Technology,

Universiti Kuala Lumpur, 78000 Alor Gajah, Malacca, Malaysia

^*Corresponding author: yongsk@uitm.edu.my

Received: 22 September 2022; Accepted: 27 February 2023; Published: 19 April 2023

Abstract

Magnesium-modified biochar (MB) is used to recover phosphate (PO₄^3-) from urine by struvite precipitation. Pyrolysis of sawdust (SD) at 700°C and subsequent impregnation with MgO₂ produced MB. Virgin and spent MB were characterized for proximate analysis, surface morphology, elemental composition, specific surface area, and functional groups using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron micrography (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, surface area analysis, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, respectively. The batch sorption experiments were conducted on MB using artificial human urine (AHU), where residual PO₄^3- was quantified by colorimetry. Sorption data were analyzed using various isotherm (i.e., Langmuir and Freundlich) and kinetic models (i.e., pseudo-first and pseudo-second-order) for elucidation of sorptive potential and mechanism. Pyrolysis of SD produced porous sawdust biochar (SB) with a high surface area. However, modification with MgO₂ decreased the surface area of MB, possibly due to the loss of micropores from oxidation and deposition of struvite as confirmed by SEM-EDX analysis. FTIR analysis showed that polar functional groups such as carboxylate (1641 cm^-1), phenolate (1300 cm^-1), and amide (1674 cm^-1) were mainly involved in the Mg²⁺ and PO₄^3- adsorption. The PO₄^3-sorption capacity for MB was 8967 mg/g at a sorbent/solution ratio of 0.1 g/L after 120 min of contact time. Sorption of PO₄^3- occurred on a heterogeneous MB surface with a possible multilayer adsorption mechanism. The kinetic study suggested that the sorption of PO₄^3- by MB was a chemisorption process. The presence of Mg in MB aided the formation of struvite in MB and enhanced the recovery of PO₄^3- from AHU. Spent MB exhibited higher ability in immobilizing soil Pb compared to ground magnesium limestone (GML) at a similar application rate (5% w/w). Spend MB can be recovered as fertilizer or immobilizing heavy metals such as lead in soil.

Keywords: oxidized biochar, magnesium peroxide, struvite, phosphate recovery, human urine

Abstrak

Biochar yang diubah suai dengan magnesium (MB) digunakan untuk memulihkan fosfat (PO₄^3-) daripada air kencing melalui pemendakan struvite. Pirolisis habuk papan (SD) pada 700°C dan impregnasi seterusnya dengan MgO₂ menghasilkan MB. Kedua-dua MB mentah dan terpakai dicirikan pada analisis proksimat, morfologi permukaan, komposisi unsur, luas permukaan spesifik dan kumpulan berfungsi telah dijalankan menggunakan penganalisis termogravimetrik (TGA), pengimbasan mikrografi elektron (SEM), analisis sinar-X penyebaran tenaga (EDX), penganalisis luas permukaan, dan spektroskopi Inframerah transformasi Fourier (FTIR), masing-masing. Eksperimen jerapan telah dijalankan pada MB menggunakan air kencing manusia tiruan (AHU), di mana sisa PO₄^3- ditentukan dengan teknik kolorimetri. Data jerapan dianalisis menggunakan pelbagai model isoterma (iaitu, Langmuir and Freundlich) dan kinetik (iaitu, pseudo-tertib-pertama and pseudo-tertib-kedua) untuk penjelasan potensi dan mekanisme jerapan. Pirolisis SD menghasilkan biochar (SB) berliang dengan luas permukaan yang tinggi. Walau bagaimanapun, pengubahsuaian dengan MgO₂ mengurangkan luas permukaan MB, mungkin disebabkan oleh kehilangan mikropori daripada pengoksidaan dan pemendapan struvite seperti yang disahkan oleh analisis SEM-EDX. Analisis FTIR menunjukkan kehadiran kumpulan berfungsi polar seperti karboksilat (1641 cm^-1), fenolat (1300 cm^-1), dan amida (1674 cm^-1) terlibat terutamanya dalam penjerapan Mg²⁺ dan PO₄^3-. Kapasiti penyerapan PO₄^3- untuk MB ialah 8967 mg/g pada nisbah sorben/larutan 0.1g/L selepas 120 minit masa sentuhan. Penyerapan PO₄^3- berkemungkinan berlaku pada permukaan MB heterogen dengan mekanisme penjerapan berbilang lapisan. Kajian kinetik menunjukan bahawa proses penjerapan PO₄^3- oleh MB adalah melalui proses kimia. Kehadiran Mg dalam MB membantu pemendakan struvite dalam MB, dan meningkatkan prestasi pemulihan PO₄^3- daripada AHU. MB terpakai lebih cekap dalam imobilisasi plumbum di dalam tanah berbanding dengan batu kapur magnesium terkisar (GML) pada kadar penggunaan yang sama (5 % w/w). MB terpakai boleh dikitar semula sebagai baja atau merawat tanah yang tercemar dengan logam berat seperti plumbum.

Kata kunci: biochar teroksida, magnesium peroksida, struvite, pengambilan semula fosfat, urin manusia

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